A New Medicinal Mushroom for Treating Cancer

Medicinal mushrooms, frequently used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, are among the most exciting treatments for cancer. Some of the best, and best known, are reishi, shiitake and maitake (especially maitake fraction-D or maitake fraction-MD). Another mushroom, corydalis (Turkey corn), is great for easing cancer pain.

Well, here’s an important new medicinal mushroom from Traditional Chinese Medicine to add to the west’s natural anticancer arsenal. . . .

Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of thirteen double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of the Coriolus versicolor mushroom, commonly known as Turkey Tail, on cancer survival.

Taking Coriolus resulted in a significant survival advantage over taking conventional cancer treatment alone. The people who took the mushroom had a 9% reduction in five year mortality. That means that for every eleven people treated, at the end of five years, there was one additional person alive when Coriolus was added to the treatment.

This exciting mushroom showed its benefit when added to chemotherapy for people with breast cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer.

The researchers concluded that the evidence for benefitting survival by taking Coriolus is strong.

Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery 2012;6:78-87